Let's Try This Again... On April 29, Amtrak's second Phase II anniversary unit, AMTK 130, was leading Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight through the Central Coast agriculture community of Guadalupe when its trip to Seattle was abruptly halted. A semi truck driver thought he could beat the train at an unmarked grade crossing and quickly realized he lost when his trailer was struck by the train. While no one was hurt, 130 suffered damage to its headlights, electrical connections and a ditch light. This forced the unit to be removed and left in Guadalupe as the train continued north following the investigation.
Following a trip back to Los Angeles, 130 entered the locomotive mechanical shops and was soon given a thorough going over to repair the damage. Many of the repairs such as new electrical connections, a snow plow and lights were either installed or ready to be...but the completion of these could not take place until a newly painted nose arrived from the Beech Grove, Indiana shops.
Seventy two days after it made the trek as far as Guadalupe, AMTK 130 finds itself once again on the point of the northbound Coast Starlight this morning as it guides the eight car train into Santa Susana Pass on the approach to Tunnel 27. Unlike the green that covered these hills when 130 last passed through here in April during spring, these hills are now wearing their annual coat of brown as the hot temperatures of summer are felt, spiking above 90 at the time this photo was taken.
Today's northbound trip for the 130 is its first since it's collision with the semi truck in Guadalupe...and here's hoping it makes it farther north this time!
